Prospectus Hit List for June 20

Hit List for June 19
Hit List for June 21Hit List updates are published Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, starting April 2, 2014. Data presented here is based on games through the day prior to publication.Teams are ordered based on Adjusted Hit List Factor, a computer generated number, and the author isn't responsible for the order of the teams.

Major League Baseball learns a lesson in what is cowardly, and is this the day we finally write something happy about the Pirates?

25

41

28.5

25.1

24.2

.390

.371

0.0%

0.4%

0.4%

0.4%

0.0%

Eric Young and Marco Scutaro both have a .329 on-base percentage and a .392 slugging. Sad fact: They were the first two batters on Jim Tracy's lineup card last night.

2

24

45

25.6

26.0

26.5

.370

.352

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

The last time Nick Hundley's batting average was over the Mendoza line was on May 4. As you know, May 4, 1886, was the day of the Haymarket Square Riot. Eleven people dead at the scene, four hanged a year later. And Nick Hundley is sad about the whole thing.

3

26

40

25.2

26.8

26.7

.397

.416

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-0.4%

The Twins started Scott Diamond, a guy without much stuff who relies on control to get ahead. Unfortunately, they gave him Ryan Doumit as a batterymate. This didn't go down as smoothly as the nice bucheron-and-chardonnay pairing you worked out for your last party.

4

28

40

28.6

27.0

27.6

.409

.389

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

I know there's no urgency, but can the Astros really not do better than Jordan Schafer in center? What about this J.B. Shuck guy? He seems okay.

5

24

44

28.6

27.7

27.8

.397

.378

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Starlin Castro has more caught stealings than he has walks.

6

35

31

30.9

28.2

28.3

.464

.444

2.0%

3.1%

5.1%

-1.2%

2.0%

Jose Tabata batting leadoff looks ugly because of his .290 OBP, but his PECOTA rest-of-season OBP is actually second on the Pirates, with only Andrew McCutchen ahead. That's pretty sad for the Pirates, though.

7

30

36

30.0

29.9

30.4

.456

.476

1.2%

0.0%

1.2%

0.4%

1.2%

I call him Humbert Humbert Quintero, but ESPN's helpful pronunciation guide calls him "Oom-bear-toe," which is flat-out adorable.

8

30

40

32.9

30.7

31.3

.446

.466

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Lucas Luetge started his career with 16 2/3 innings without allowing an "earned" run. I told him to retire rather than pitch to Jason Kubel. I did.

9

33

34

28.0

30.7

30.5

.456

.436

6.7%

8.7%

15.4%

-3.5%

-11.0%

Logan Morrison had all five RBI for the Marlins. "Thanks for hitting in front of me, Hanley Ramirez and Giancarlo Stanton!"

10

32

36

33.5

30.9

31.1

.469

.489

0.4%

0.0%

0.4%

0.4%

0.0%

Five hits against the Dodgers? Unimpressive. Fifteen times on base in 39 PAs? That sounds a lot better.

11

35

32

29.6

32.0

32.5

.482

.502

23.2%

5.1%

28.3%

-3.1%

-11.8%

The Indians threw their closer in a tied game. The Reds saved theirs for a lead. Asdrubal Cabrera can think Baseba'al for his game-winning homer.

12

31

37

32.1

32.5

31.0

.466

.446

7.9%

15.0%

22.8%

1.2%

-1.2%

The starting pitcher got a hit. The catcher walked once. The first baseman took an ohfer but at least got an RBI. Three of the four pinch-hitters got hits. Norichika Aoki? Zero times reached, five trips. Of course, the Brewers lost by one.

13

33

34

32.7

33.3

33.3

.493

.513

41.7%

3.5%

45.3%

16.1%

26.8%

The lowest on-base percentage in the Tigers' top four in the batting order is .371, and that's Miguel Cabrera, who hits for a little power. They've also got Justin Verlander and Joaquin Benoit. Also also: They're below .500.

14

39

29

34.5

33.9

35.2

.524

.544

2.8%

20.5%

23.2%

-6.3%

0.4%

I have a surprise for you: Dana Eveland struck out zero of the six batters he faced. (I'm terrible at surprises.)

15

37

32

34.7

34.0

34.7

.509

.489

9.8%

7.9%

17.7%

-1.6%

7.1%

Johan Santana has been the most ground ball-averse starter in the majors this year. Also, he has an ERA of 3.00.

16

35

33

37.3

34.6

35.7

.524

.544

0.4%

7.1%

7.5%

-1.2%

1.2%

Toronto's run-scoring innings were all in multiples of two, capped by solo homers from Colby Rasmus (his second of the game, natch) and Jose Bautista (ibid) in the ninth. Should've happened in the 10th to really nail the theme.

17

38

29

35.8

34.6

35.9

.539

.558

13.4%

50.8%

64.2%

6.7%

-2.0%

Apparently it's now "cowardly" to ask the umpires to enforce the rules about pitchers applying foreign substances to baseballs. Also cowardly: calling the police on a burglar.

18

36

32

35.8

34.8

35.1

.521

.501

42.5%

18.9%

61.4%

7.9%

-3.5%

Freddie Freeman missed a week with a finger injury but came back last night. The Braves definitely missed his .295 OBP.

19

38

29

37.7

35.8

35.2

.547

.527

63.0%

17.3%

80.3%

6.3%

20.9%

Aroldis Chapman has now given up runs in four of his last six appearances, including three losses. Rough patch? Fatigue? Luck? Someone should probably write an article in an alarmed tone.

33

35

34.7

36.2

36.1

.515

.495

12.6%

17.7%

30.3%

-2.8%

1.2%

Daniel Hudson is giving up a homer nearly every five innings. He can take comfort that's still giving up fewer homers per nine innings than Bert Blyleven did when he allowed 50 in 1986.

22

35

33

36.7

37.5

37.7

.540

.560

33.9%

3.9%

37.8%

-15.0%

-22.8%

Jake Peavy's 125 pitches were the most he's thrown since he tossed 127 (in seven innings!) on July 27, 2008. I'm not complaining, just noting. He threw three quality starts in a row following that 2008 start.

23

38

31

35.4

37.7

37.0

.537

.517

32.3%

32.3%

64.6%

1.6%

-2.4%

Swinging-strike rate is very important for a pitcher. Barry Zito beat C.J. Wilson by that measure last night. Hooray! Too bad Barry Zito also allowed eight runs in 3 1/3 innings.

24

37

32

37.3

37.7

37.8

.543

.562

5.5%

58.7%

64.2%

0.0%

-5.1%

Mike Trout had two singles, two doubles, and a walk, and somehow all I can feel is disappointment that he didn't attempt any steals.

38

27

36.3

38.6

38.0

.580

.561

36.2%

16.9%

53.1%

-4.7%

-18.1%

Whatever else is the deal with Chien-Ming Wang, he's still the all-time leader in major-league innings by someone born in Taiwan. Can't take that way from him. Unless you're a Taiwanese pitcher good enough to make the majors.

27

41

26

39.8

39.3

39.5

.595

.614

78.3%

18.5%

96.9%

0.8%

5.9%

David Robertson pitched his first clean outing since May 11 due to an oblique injury and giving up a meaningless run on June 15. As good as Boone Logan and Rafael Soriano have been, a third bullpen arm could be big in October.

28

42

26

39.8

39.6

38.7

.589

.569

55.1%

26.4%

81.5%

-5.5%

1.2%

Coming into the game in Oakland, Aaron Harang had the lowest FRA of this career. By the time you see this, though, 2006 may have regained its rightful place, possibly by chopping off the head of 2012.

29

34

34

39.2

40.0

38.5

.558

.538

27.2%

29.9%

57.1%

3.5%

3.5%

Allen Craig got an outfield assist yesterday, but he threw out Prince Fielder, so how should we actually record this? 0.7 assists?

30

42

27

43.7

46.6

45.9

.646

.664

94.1%

5.9%

100.0%

-0.0%

2.0%

Scott Feldman completed six innings for the first time this year (eight starts). Not coincidentally, he threw a quality start. Also not coincidentally, the Padres were the opponent.

Jason Wojciechowski is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Click here to see Jason's other articles.
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